Guillows P-38 Lightning

[Kurt Konrath]

When I was just a young kid building models I didn't know why they were there.

Years later as a jet aircraft mechanic and crew chief, I learned why, when you sit in the cockpit and have engines on the side the glare of the sun can be blinding from shiny or even dull aluminum.

 

[Maarten]

On another note, I picked up a new hobby…like I have time!
I am growing bonsai trees, the first is my boxwood tree, the others are a trident maple, an orange and a Brazilian rain forest tree (my fav) in the last pic.
They are all about 5 years old now.

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Haha Dean,

Shipmodeling and keeping boxwood trees small is contradictionairy. We shipmodellers prefer boxwood as big as possible.

Here an example I saw in the Gorge du Verdon in the South of France last year, a complete boxwood forest, unfortunately proteted forest

 

[Dean62]

Well, I’m sure if any of those lost a branch or two, you would have voluntarily cleaned them up, as a humanitarian gesture of course. Wink wink

 

[Dean62]

This is how the plastic pieces in the kit are provided…you have to cut them out and carefully sand the edges flush. Then of course primer and paint. Fun stuff!

 

[Dean62]

The pieces after being cut out…now ready to start painting…

 

[Dean62]

Today is my moms birthday…so feeling a little melancholy. Some of you might remember her parents (my grandparents) were German and Dutch. So I got that from her side of the family.
Anyway, not trying to make this too personal, I just wanted to post something today in remembrance of her since it’s her birthday.
And this build is going to be a way for me to honor her by naming the airplane after her and using her photo.

 

[Uwek]

Somehow I can recognize the half german inb your mum
That means that you are a quarter german my friend
Happy Birthday - I can fully understand your todays feelings

 

[pianoforte]

I feel for you Dean. But I'm also pleased that you've started a new, very interesting aircraft project with so much enthusiasm. It looks very good. 1:16 is also a decent scale.

 

[Dean62]

Thanks for the kind words and support. You guys are great!

I decided to paint the parts for the other side of the fuselage.
In case you’re wondering what you are looking at, these were the exhaust turbos for the 12 cylinder engines! So I added some burnt orange and blue to simulate heat cycles.
The black panels will be inboard as anti-glare for the pilot.

Now back to skinning the wing…

 

[Geno]

Yes, anti-glare and anti-slip. And the black looks good on the chrome.

I see you mentioned Richard “Dick” Bong. His restored p-38 sits in a special hanger on US Hwy 2 in Superior Wisconsin

 

[Dean62]

I see you mentioned Richard “Dick” Bong. His restored p-38 sits in a special hanger on US Hwy 2 in Superior Wisconsin

Yes, I have many pictures of it for reference!

 

[Dean62]

I purchased this book for reference material. It has a lot of nice details and photos. You can see the exhaust turbos, the motor and access panels in some of these example photos…

 

[Bob sav]

I built all of the frames for the wings, fuselage, etc.
Then I did a dry fit to make sure everything is going to go together correctly. Then I set some plastic pieces I painted in place to get an idea of how those were going to look…

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The p-38 was first gas powered model airplane. I spent the entire an winter building it WAY WAY back when. 2 .020 engines via control line . I flew that thing for hours round and around till I wore out those tiny engines. I can still remember the smell of the alcohol and oil .

 

[RDN1954]

I have been very busy with work and grandkids and my hobby time has been reduced drastically.

Life has a tendency to do so.
Good to see you back and with a long time favorite of mine no less!
I think in those days the P-38 was ahead of its time with its tri-cycle landing gear. It also resembles the Fokker G1 a bit, both twin engined, distinct tail booms, armament in the nose. Only the fuselage of the P-38 does not extend beyond the TE, while the G1's fuselage extends quite a bit; it accomodated a crew of three.

 

[RDN1954]

Thanks Doc,
I recently lost my mom to lung cancer, stage 4. Once diagnosed she lived another 7 weeks!
I spent as much time as possible with her until she passed.
It was the hardest thing I have ever done! She was there to see me take my first breath and I was there when she took her last. I owed her that much, to be by her bedside and to comfort her. She died on August 7th and I still have good days and bad days, but hanging in there!

My sincere condolences with the passing away of the one who gave you life.

 

[RDN1954]

I purchased this book for reference material. It has a lot of nice details and photos. You can see the exhaust turbos, the motor and access panels in some of these example photos…

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Wonder what would have been if they installed a pair of Merlins on a P-38...

 

[Peter Voogt]

It took a few days, but I found your new build-log, Dean. A nice technical challenge. My chair is set.
A picture of your beloved mom would be great on the model.
I do like those 'plastic metal plates with rivets'. I am wondering why ………..
Of course you can also combine your new bonsai hobby with your current one: plenty of examples from beginner to advanced.

PS: It’s a example from the internet! —> Erik_Goddard <—
Regards, Peter

 

[Pathfinder65]

It took a few days, but I found your new build-log, Dean. A nice technical challenge. My chair is set.
A picture of your beloved mom would be great on the model.
I do like those 'plastic metal plates with rivets'. I am wondering why ………..
Of course you can also combine your new bonsai hobby with your current one: plenty of examples from beginner to advanced.
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Regards, Peter

Wow, that is awesome.

 

[Peter Voogt]

Wow, that is awesome.

I just added a PM by the picture. It’s not my work !!!!!!!
Apologies for not mentioning the source in the first instance.
Regards, Peter

 

[Dean62]

My sincere condolences with the passing away of the one who gave you life.

Thank you, much appreciated!